Classical conditioning of arterial pulse transit time and ECG-initiated transit time with the cold pressor as unconditioned stimulus

Abstract

Arterial pulse transit time (PTT) and ECG•initiated transit time (ECG•TT) can be measured noninvasively in human subjects and reflect significant aspects of cardiovascular activity. In eight conditioning trials, with the cold pressor as the unconditioned stimulus, conditioned decreases in PTT and increases in ECG•TT were observed in later trials, concomitant with con• ditioned vasoconstriction. The results are discussed in terms of the potential contribution of PTT and ECG•TT in examining the effects of psychological processes on the cardiovascular system. Classically conditioned cardiovascular responses have been widely investigated in animals (e.g.,

Pulse transit time technique for cuffless unobtrusive blood pressure measurement: from theory to algorithm

“…In 1980, Weiss et al [35] defined PTT as the interval between ventricular electrical activity and the peripheral appearance of the pulse. In the same year, Marie et al [36] mentioned the time interval between R wave of ECG and peripheral pulse as absolute PTT measures, while that between two peripheral pulses as a measure of PTT differences, which were referred as ECG-initiated transit time (ECG-TT) and arterial PTT respectively by Redman et al [37] in 1983. Thus, PTT contains the intra-cardiac and arterial components of pulse transmission time, and we express it with PEP and the vascular transit time (VTT) as given in (4).…”

Arterial pulse transit time and ECG-initiated transit time: The form of the conditioned responses

“…However, since the cold pressor test is noxious and has long-lasting effects on the cardiovascular system, the number of acquisition trials was limited to eight. Therefore, a thorough investigation of the form and persistence of the PTT and ECG-TT conditioned responses (CRs) was not possible.The purpose of the following experiments was to extend the findings of Redman and Dutch (1983) by exploring the form of the PTT and ECG-TT Cks and their persistence during extended acquisition. To avoid the…”

“…The purpose of the following experiments was to extend the findings of Redman and Dutch (1983) by exploring the form of the PTT and ECG-TT Cks and their persistence during extended acquisition. To avoid the…”